Vendor driving mechanism



8- 8, 1959 E. c. JOHNSON VENDOR DRIVING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 16, 1954 U Fly. 4- I NVEN TOR.

Ewe/3 6. dafixzsa/f E 14 T 70/? IV E K 2,900,214 VENDOR DRIVINGMECHANISM Elmer C. Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to The VendoCompany, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August16, 1954, Serial No. 449,952 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-97) This inventionrelates to improvements in vending machines and particularly to thedriving mechanism therefor, the primary object being to provide novelmeans for actuating a selected vending unit from a common prime mover.

It is the most important object of the'instant invention to provide in avending machine of the kind having a series of vending units each ofwhich in turn is provided with a rotatable shaft, driving mechanism thatincludes a single prime mover that is automatically coupled with theshaft of a selected unit upon insertion of a coin in the machine and/orupon otherwise making of a selection by the customer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide drive mechanismthat includes a train of gears connected to a prime mover and includinga control assembly for operably connecting a selected vending assemblyinto the Patented Aug. 18, 1959 ice separate vending units, there beingthree of such units illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

, Each unit consists of a continuous conveyor 14 having open front,article-receiving pockets or holders 16, successively registrable withopenings 18 in a vertical partition 20. Manifestly, the access door forcabinet 10, not

train of gears for operation thereby to the exclusion of the remainingvending units of the machine.

Other objects include the way in which each vending unit is providedwith a driven element loosely mounted on its driven shaft andconstituting one of the gears of the train of gears aforementioned; theway in which a control disc is made fast to each of said shaftsrespectively, and operably coupled with the corresponding gear throughpawl-ratchet means; the manner of providing a latching bolt engageablewithin a notch of the disc for normally holding the latter againstrotation; the way in which the bolt is held out of the notch and out ofengagement with the said pawl by a holding dog swingable similarly tothe pawl across the notch when the bolt isretracted; the manner ofproviding a pallet engageahle with a stud on the disc for holding thelatter against retrograde movement; the way in which safety means in thenature of an indentation is provided on the said pallet; the manner ofspring-loading the latter to positively align the notch with the bolt;andthe manner of providing switch means for the prime mover, togetherwith mechanism operably coupled with the latchi'rig bolts to control theprime mover each time a selection is made by a customer.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a vending machinewith the access door normally provided therefor entirely removed andparts being broken away to illustrate the driving mechanism of theinstant invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view with the rear panel ofthe cabinet entirely removed and with parts broken away for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line III -III ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on lineIY-IV of Fig. 3.

The vending machine chosen for illustration of the principles of theinstant invention includes a suitable cabinet broadly designated by thenumeral 10 having a storage compartment 12 adapted to contain aplurality of illustrated in the drawings, is provided with secondarydoors, gates or the like, rendering the merchandise carried by thepockets 16, available to the customer after insertion of a suitable coinor the like.

Conveyors 14 are manifestly each provided with spaced, horizontal shaftsin the usual manner, one of which is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings anddesignated by the numeral 15. Each of the shafts 15 has a relativelylarge gear 17 fast thereto and disposed inwardly of a vertical partition19 within the cabinet 10.

Each conveyor 14 respectively, is provided with an operating shaft 22journalled in the partition 19, and, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,there is provided a train of gears broadly designated by the numeral 24operably interconnecting the three uppermost driven shafts 22 of thethree corresponding vending units 14. To this end each shaft 22respectively, has "a gear 26 loosely mounted thereon and intermeshingwith idler gears 28 and 30. Gear 28 is driven by a prime mover 32 suchas an electric motor, through a continuous chain 34 trained around asmall gear 36 operably connected with the gear 28. Thus, uponenergization of the electric motor 32 to drive the gears 36 and 28clockwise, viewing Fig. 2, the three gears or driven elements 26 willall be rotated anticlockwise, viewing Fig. 2.

The train of gears 28 are all located behind the parti tion'19 as isclear in Figs. 2 and 3, and each driven shaft 22 respectively isprovided with a pinion 21 rigid thereto and disposed forwardly of thepartition 19 in meshing relationship with corresponding gears 17.

Each conveyor shaft 22 respectively is also provided with a controlmember in the nature of a disc 38 pro- 'vided with a peripheral notch 40and cut away slightly as at 42 on its periphery adjacent the notch 40.Each disc 38 is made fast to its corresponding shaft 22 by a key 44passing through its shaft 22 and through slotted hub 46 integral witheach disc 38 respectively. Each gear 26 respectively is provided with aperipherally toothed ratchet wheel 48, the ratchet wheels 48 beingdisposed between the discs 38 and the gears 26 as seen in Fig. 3 of thedrawings and being secured rigidly to the gears 26 for rotationtherewith. Releasable locking means in the nature of a springloaded,Swingable locking pawl 50, is provided on the front face of each disc 38respectively, adjacent its notch 40. Swingable pawls 50 carried by thediscs 38 for rotation therewith are biased toward ratchet wheels 43 bysprings 54 interposed between pawls 5t and discs 38. Similarly, eachdisc 38 respectively, carries a Swingable holding dog 56 on the rearmostfaces of the discs 38 ad jacent the notches 40, and biased toward stops58 on the discs 38 by springs 60 interconnecting the dogs 56 and thediscs 38.

The notches 4t) normally receive releasable latching means in the natureof a vertically reciprocable bolt or plunger s2 operably coupled withpower means such as solenoids 64.

A rotatable rod 66 above the discs 38 and the train of gears 24 isprovided with a radial pin 68 within the path of travel of a lateralextension or projection 70 on each bolt 62 respectively. The rod 66 isoperably coupled with an electric switch 72 that is in turn coupled withprime mover 32 in a conventional manner (not shown) to energize themotor 32 when switch 72 is closed.

Normally open switch 72 is closed upon rotation of rod 66 against theaction of a spring 74 coiled thereon and such rotation of the rod 66 iscaused by upward movement of the pins 68 to the position shown in Fig. 2of the drawings upon retraction of any one of the bolts 62 from withincorresponding notch 46 through energization of the associated solenoid64-. It is seen, therefore, that the mechanism for closing the switch orcontrol device 72 is common to the three vending units 14.

A spring-loaded, swingable pallet 76 is mounted on a bracket 78 forengagement with a lateral stud 80 on disc 38 to hold the latter againstretrograde rotation. It is seen that there is a pallet 76 for each disc38 to hold the latter against clockwise rotation when in engagement withstuds 80. An indentation 82 in the lowermost arcuate end of the pallet76 is adapted to receive the stud under circumstances hereinafter to bemore fully described. Springs 84 for normally holding the pallets 76biased against stops 86 are of sufficient'strength to tend to rotate thediscs 38 counter-clockwise for purposes also to be hereinafterclarified.

As above indicated, the latching bolts or plungers 62 are normallydisposed within their corresponding notches 40, thereby locking thecontrol discs 33 against rotation in either direction. Consequently, ifat that time, the motor 32 were energized, it would idly drive the trainof gears 24 together with the three ratchet wheels 48 without anyconsequent rotation of the discs 38, the shafts 22 or the conveyors 14.

Upon selection by the customer of desired merchandise by insertion of acoin or other selection of one of the solenoids 64, the latter will beenergized to first lift the corresponding bolt 62 from within its notchas. One of the said bolts 62 is shown retracted in Fig. 2 andconsequently its lateral projection 76 has moved to a position engagingthe pin 68 thereabove, rotating the rod 66 against the action of spring74- and closing the switch 72. Such closing of switch '72 energizes theprime mover 32 and switch '72 remains closed during the succeeding cycleof operation even though the solenoid 64 is deenergized by movement ofthe coin to a collection box.

As soon as the latching bolt 62 is thus retracted the corresponding pawl50 will swing into engagement with the proximal ratchet wheel 58 underthe influence of spring 54. Simultaneously, the holding dog 56 will beswung against the stop 58 by spring 60. Both the pawl 50 and the dog 56move across the notch 40 beneath the bolt 62. Upon deenergization ofsolenoid 64, bolt 62 drops to a position engaging the dog sufficientlyto open switch 72. It is to be noted in Fig. 4 of the drawings that theupper end of pawl is spaced below the periphery of disc 33 so that whenthe bolt 62 moves into engagement with the dog 56, it will not contactthe pawl 50 and tend to retract the latter from engagement with ratchetwheel 48 when disc 38 commences to rotate.

As the motor 32 drives the train of gears 24, the ratchet wheel 48 thatis locked with its disc 38 by pawl 50, will rotate such disc 38 and,therefore, the corresponding shaft 22 through hub 46 and key 44. Disc 38rotates one revolution clockwise, viewing Fig. 4, until the bolt 62drops back into the notch 40 and by virtue of such single rotation ofthe disc 38, the corresponding conveyor 14 will be advanced one step.Manifestly, the dog 56 and the 56 but does not drop pawl 50 are engagedby the bolt 62 as the disc 38 com-- pletes its cycle of revolution,thereby moving the dog 56 and the pawl 50 to the normal position againstthe action of springs 60 and 54 respectively.

As the stud 80 rotates with the disc 38, it first moves away from thelowermost arcuate edge of the corresponding pallet 76, and thereuponre-engages the pallet 76 swinging the latter against the action ofspring 84 until the stud 80 snaps into position beneath the holdingpallet 76, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the event that the disc 38 does not complete its cycle of revolutionsufiiciently to permit re-entry of the 4 bolt 62 into its notch 40,spring 84 acting on the pallet 76 and the latter in turn acting upon thestud 80, will continue the rotation of the disc 38 until the bolt 62falls into place within its notch 40.

In the event attempt is made to shift any one of the conveyors 14 in adirection to cause clockwise rotation of the corresponding disc 33(viewing Fig. 2), the stud 80 will slide along the lowermost arcuateedge of the pallet 76 and enter the indentation 82. Further movement ofsuch conveyor 14 is thus prevented by the locking engagement of the stud80 within the indentation 82 of pallet 76. Manifestly, as soon as thebolt 62 re-enters the notch 40, spring 74 will rotate the rod 66 toswing the pin 68 downwardly and thereby reopen the switch 72, causingdeenergization of the prime mover 32.

As above indicated, each cycle of rotation of a disc 38 rotates drivenshaft 22. therefor, which in turn rotates the corresponding pinion 21 toimpart rotation to gear 17, thereby advancing the conveyor or vendingunit 14 one step through its shaft 15.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine having a prime mover and a control device forsaidprime mover, a cabinet having a storage compartment; a plurality ofconveyors in the storage compartment; a shaft operably coupled with eachconveyor respectively; a driven element loosely mounted on each shaftrespectively; means coupling said elements with said prime mover forsimultaneous operation thereby; a control member fast to each shaftrespectively, each member being provided with releasable locking meansadapted for coupling the same with a corresponding element; releasablelatching means for each member respectively, normally holding the latteragainst rotation, and normally holding the corresponding locking meansin an inoperative position whereby, upon release of the latching means,the shafts are driven from said elements through the members; andmechanism operably interconnecting the latching means and said controldevice for actuating the latter and energizing the prime mover upon saidrelease of the latching means.

2. In a vending machine, a plurality of driven shafts; a driven elementloosely mounted on each shaft respectively and each provided with aratchet wheel; means coupled with said elements for driving the samesimultaneously; a control disc fast to each shaft respectively, andprovided with a peripheral notch; a latching bolt for each discrespectively normally within the notch thereof; a locking pawl on eachdisc respectively adapted to engage a corresponding ratchet to couplethe discs with said elements, whereby the shafts are driven from saidelements through the discs upon withdrawal of the latching bolt from thenotches, each latching bolt being provided with power means forwithdrawing the same from its notch; and a holding dog mounted on eachdisc respectively and movable into the path of travel of correspondinglatching bolts upon withdrawal of the latter from the notches torestrain the latching bolts from reentering the notches uponde-energization of said power means.

3. In apparatus of the kind described, a driven shaft; a ratchet wheelloosely mounted on the shaft; a control disc fast to the shaft andprovided with a notch; a latching bolt normally disposed within thenotch for holding the disc against rotation; a locking pawl swingablymounted on the disc and normally engaging the bolt; spring meansinterconnecting the pawl and the disc for swinging the pawl intoengagement with the ratchet wheel upon withdrawal of the bolt from thenotch, whereby the disc and the shaft are rotated as the ratchet wheelis driven; a stud on the disc; and a swingable, spring-loaded palletengageable with the stud for holding the disc against retrograderotation,'said pallet having a studreceiving indentation to restrainswinging of the pallet 5. against the action of its spring upon-saidretrograde rotation of the disc. 1

4. In apparatus of the kind described, a driven shaft; a ratchet wheelloosely mounted on the shaft; a control disc fast to the shaft andprovided with a notch; a latching bolt normally disposed within thenotch for holding the disc against rotation; a locking pawl swingablymounted on the disc and normally engaging the bolt; spring meansinterconnecting the pawl and the disc for swinging the pawl intoengagement with the ratchet wheel upon withdrawal of the bolt from thenotch, whereby the disc and the shaft are rotated in one direction asthe ratchet Wheel is driven; a stud on the discs; and a swingable palletengageable with the stud for holding the disc against rotation in onedirection, said pallet being springloaded whereby to tend to rotate thedisc in a direction opposite to said one direction when the pallet is inengagement with the stud and thereby align the notch with the bolt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCopeland Oct. 8, 1918 Wood Apr. 8, 1919 Helt Sept. 12, 1922 Hill Oct.13, 1931 Carleton Nov. 10, 1936 Holt May 20, 1941 Tratsch July 15, 1941Thompson Ian. 8, 1946 Klay June13, 1950 Clemens May 22, 1951 GottschauIan. 1, 1952 Tandler Mar. 25, 1952 Sadler Dec. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTSFrance Oct. 3, 1921

